Saturday, August 30, 2014

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly is one of my favorites. It's also my state of Alabama's state mascot and official butterfly and I actually just discovered this. The Monarch Butterfly is listed as the state insect. That sounds a little confusing, two butterflies? In 1989 it was requested by the Selma, Alabama council that the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail become official butterfly for the state. Selma is also known as the butterfly capital of Alabama. Another interesting fact that I never knew. Some Eastern Tiger Swallowtail can be yellow with tiger stripes. Identifying this butterfly at first was a little confusing. It's similar to the Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) and Red-Spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) both of which I have photographed and I am sharing blogs about. All of these are black with beautiful blues. The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail can be found in Eastern North America, from Ontario, south to the Gulf coast, west to the Colorado plains and to central Texas. This time of year I love to watch for butterflies and now I am learning their names along with much information. I'm discovering God's creation and I hope you will too.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)

Friday, August 29, 2014

Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio troilus)

Maybe you never saw this butterfly before. It's only found in the Eastern United States and Southern Ontario. Occasionally they may stray as far west as Colorado, north to North Dakota and as far south as Cuba. There are two subspecies and Papilio toilus ilioneus is said to be restricted to the Southern coastal plain including the Florida Peninsula. Males of the Spicebush Swallow tail (Papilio troilus) have a trademark blue-green half moon splotch on the hind wings while the females have a bright blue splotch. The males seemed to love the mimosa trees this year at our house but hard to capture good photos as high up as they were. Sometimes I would follow butterflies through the woods for a while but they were not still and flew away out of my sight usually. The larvae of the Spicebush Swallowtail feed on leaves of aromatic shrubs and trees. The Sassafras tree is one of those and I've noticed there are a good many in this area where I am in Alabama. Their name comes from the shrub Spicebush (Lindera Benzoin) which is another one of their favorite food. I'm not sure if there are any of those near where I am but there could be. Remember this is a new world for me. I'm discovering a new world of God's creation. I hope you'll join me and discover His creation also.

Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly- male (Papilio troilus )

Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly - male (Papilio troilus)

Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly- male (Papilio troilus)

Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio troilus)

Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly -female (Papilio troilus)

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Red-spotted Purple ( Limenitis arthemis astyanax )

The first time I saw this butterfly I ran to get my son's phone since he was closest to where I was in the backyard. It's an amazingly beautiful butterfly. I was blessed that it was so still that day. Since then I haven't been able to get so close to photograph it. It has been in the trees and stayed near the woods when I would see it. They can be found from Florida to Texas and northward to Minnesota, Michigan, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. Interesting in several of the pictures I took I wondered if it was a egg on the leaf the butterfly is resting on. It's a little hard to tell at the angle and distance though. One of the host trees for the Red Spotted Purple can be the Black Cherry or Wild Cherry and there are quite a few of those behind our home. The common name seems a bit strange to me since this butterfly is not purple but blue. I couldn't find any information why it wasn't named blue instead of purple. So much of God's creation around me and so much yet to learn. I hope you'll take time and discover God's creation where you are.

Red-spotted Purple ( Limenitis arthemis astyanax )

Red-spotted Purple wing ( Limenitis arthemis astyanax )

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Pipevine Swallowtail or Blue Swallowtail (Battus philenor)

The Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly is found in the Eastern United States, the south west and Mexico. They are very dark almost reminding you of a black bat and we have those in Alabama where I am also. I'll choose the butterflies over the bats though! I didn't realize there were so many different blue/black butterflies where I am and at this point I've taken pictures of at least 3 different species maybe more. I actually had them all confused with one species and when I started to research I realized the difference in the pictures I had taken. To me this one is the most unique of the three I'm going to write about because of the color and also those small whitish cream colored spots at the bottom are eye catching. Interesting the adult Pipevine butterflies are poisonous to birds and other predators that might try and eat them. Glad I was able to catch this one still for a few pictures and glad I'm on a journey to to discover God's creation that surrounds me. Look around and discover God's creation where you are.

Pipevine Swallowtail or Blue Swallowtail (Battus philenor)

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio cresphontes)

Very beautiful are the Giant Swallowtail Butterfly. I don't see these as often as I'd like to so it's a definite treat when I do. They can be found throughout the Eastern United States and west to the Rocky Mountains. They can also be found in Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Jamaica and Cuba. Occasionally they stray as far as Quebec, North Dakota and southward to Bermuda. They are considered the largest butterfly in the United States. Their wingspan can measure over 6 inches. One unfortunate thing about them though is the caterpillars sometimes called "Orange Dogs" can cause damage to small or young citrus plants. Nothing like that to be concerned about where I am. I'll just keep admiring the beauty God put in the Giant Swallowtail Butterfly. Take time and discover God's creation. You might be amazed at what you find.

Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)

Monday, August 25, 2014

American Lady Butterfly (Vanessa virginiensis)

The day I went out to take pictures I didn't expect a butterfly at all . I happened to see this one on the way back in my neighborhood. I prayed it would be still long enough to take some pictures and God was gracious to let me do so. I never realized there were so many names of butterflies and I'm surprised at how many different species I've discovered here. The American Lady Butterfly lives in North America from Southern Canada and throughout the entire United States. It can be found in the mountains of Central America, Columbia and the Galapagos Islands. They usually stay close to the ground unless they are drinking the nectar from the flowering trees. Their eggs are very small and green blending in well with the host plant. American Lady resembles the Painted Lady Butterfly but American Lady has two large spots on the underside of the hind wings. The Painted Lady has more smaller spots on the hind wings. I wish I could have taken a picture with the wings open but glad I was able to get as close as I did. A beautiful butterfly and a new name has been added as I discover God's creation. Look around and discover God's creation near you.

American Lady Butterfly (Vanessa virginiensis)

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly (Phoebis sennae)

The past several years I've been able to capture pictures of the Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly on the Zinnia's to Morning Glories. I always remember seeing them here and they are easy to spot around my neighborhood. They can be found in South America, The West Indies and are widespread across the Southern United States. They sometimes stray northward to Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey and even as far as Canada. The males have only faint markings on their wings and females have dark edging along the upper side of their forewing. The females also can be yellow or white with a dark spot on the upper forewing. God's lovely creation the butterfly. I'm gaining a small understanding of what God has placed in my midst. Take time and discover God's creation around you.

Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly female (Phoebis sennae)

Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly male (Phoebis sennae)

Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly female (Phoebis sennae)

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Gulf fritillary or Passion Butterfly (Agraulis vanillae)

The Passion Butterfly is quite a beauty. So far I haven't seen them around as last year. It's been a little harder to catch butterflies still for pictures this year or not hiding in the woods. Some are out of my range with the camera I have and high in the trees. Different species of butterfly loved the red/orange zinnia we had last year. It was chosen more often than the pink ones. The Passion Butterfly can be found from Argentina to Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean also the Southern United States and in some of California. Chasing Butterflies is something I never thought I'd be doing but I'm loving the opportunity God gave me to capture their beauty. I'm discovering more about God's creation in my little world. I hope you'll take time and discover His creation as well.

Gulf fritillary or Passion Butterfly (Agraulis vanillae)